Recent Publications

Anticipating Contemporary War: How Well Did We Do?
September 12, 2011 — Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria, II Few recognized it at the time, but in 1974 the eminent British historian Sir Michael Howard wrote what was to become one of the most important phrases for the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA)-Transformation era of the 1990s and early 2000s:I am tempted to declare that whatever doctrine the Armed Forces are working... MORE

The Trajectory of Security Transformation
December 1, 2003 — Author: Dr Steven Metz Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the December 2003 newsletter.Read Now MORE

China’s Strategic Modernization: Implications for the United States
September 1, 1999 — Author: Major Mark A Stokes Conventional wisdom portrays the People's Republic of China (PRC) People's Liberation Army (PLA) as a backward continental force that will not pose a military challenge to its neighbors or to the United States well into the 21st century. PLA writings that demonstrate interest in exploiting the revolution in military... MORE

Technology and the 21st Century Battlefield: Recomplicating Moral Life for the Statesman and the Soldier
January 15, 1999 — Author: COL Charles J Dunlap Jr The author starts from the traditional American notion that technology might offer a way to decrease the horror and suffering of warfare. He points out that historically this assumption is flawed in that past technological advances, from gunpowder weapons to bombers, have only made warfare more--not less--bloody... MORE

Evolutionary Technology in the Current Revolution in Military Affairs: The Army Tactical Command and Control System
March 25, 1998 — Author: Ms. Elizabeth A. Stanley Elizabeth A. Stanley analyzes developments in the Army Tactical Command and Control System as a vehicle for assessing the U.S. Army's strategy for exploiting information age technologies. Her analysis will be of great value to those interested in several dimensions of military modernization, in particular whether we... MORE

The Evolution in Military Affairs: Shaping the Future U.S. Armed Forces
June 16, 1997 — Author: Prof Douglas C Lovelace Jr Professor Douglas Lovelace articulates the exigent need to begin preparing the U.S. armed forces for the international security environment which will succeed the post-Cold War era. He defines national security interests, describes the future international security environment, identifies derivative future... MORE

National Defense into the 21st Century: Defining the Issues
June 6, 1997 — Author: Dr Earl H Tilford Jr In March 1996, Colonel Jim Blundell of the Association of the United States Army's Institute for Land Warfare and Dr. Earl H. Tilford, Jr., of the U. S. Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute envisioned a symposium that would bring all the services together for an open and honest meeting aimed at defining the... MORE

China and the Revolution in Military Affairs
May 1, 1996 — Authors: Dr Bates Gill, LTC Lonnie Henley In April 1996, the Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute held its Seventh Annual Strategy Conference. This year's theme was, "China Into the 21st Century: Strategic Partner and…or Peer Competitor."Dr. Bates Gill of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), on a panel entitled,... MORE

Strategy and the Revolution in Military Affairs: From Theory to Policy
June 25, 1995 — Authors: LTC James Kievit, Dr Steven Metz A small band of "RMA" analysts has emerged in the military and Department of Defense, in the academic strategic studies community, and in defense-related think-tanks and consulting firms. To these analysts, the Gulf War provided a vision of a potential revolution in military affairs (RMA) in which... MORE

The Revolution in Military Affairs: Prospects and Cautions
June 23, 1995 — Author: Dr Earl H Tilford Jr The current Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is taking place against the background of a larger historical watershed involving the end of the Cold War and the advent of what Alvin and Heidi Toffler have termed "the Information Age." In this essay, Dr. Earl Tilford argues that RMAs are driven by more than... MORE

The Revolution in Military Affairs and Conflict Short of War
July 1, 1994 — Authors: LTC James Kievit, Dr Steven Metz The authors concede that the revolution in military affairs holds great promise for conventional, combined-arms warfare, but conclude that its potential value in conflict short of war, whether terrorism, insurgency, or violence associated with narcotrafficking, is not so clear-cut. Given this, national... MORE

Two Historians in Technology and War
July 1, 1994 — Authors: Dr John F Guilmartin Jr, Sir Michael Howard In April 1994, the Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute held its annual Strategy Conference. The theme for this year's conference was "The Revolution in Military Affairs: Defining an Army for the 21st Century." Sir Michael and Professor Guilmartin are historians who have experienced... MORE